That's the Worst Parenting Advice Ever!

I've noticed, now that I have a kid, how flooded the world is with parenting advice. And while almost everyone agrees on the majority of the big issues (use a car seat, see a pediatrician, don't beat your baby), there are always at least two -- sometimes three or four -- opposing opinions on everything else. Some of the things I've seen just in the 5 months since Isaac was born are:

- natural vs. medicated birth
- breast-feeding vs. formula
- cloth diapers vs. disposable ones
- working vs. staying home
- nanny vs. daycare
- co-sleeping vs. crib
- schedule vs. no schedule
- feeding solids early (4 months) vs. late (6 months), along with baby-led weaning or purees
- giving baby vitamins or not
- vaccinating or not
- sleep training or not

I mean, good grief. And the thing is is that there is so much judgement and guilt tied to whatever decision you make. The people in Camp A believe the people in Camp B are ruining their children's lives, and vice versa. Experts on both sides of all the issues tell you that their way is right and the other guy's way is wrong.

But at the end of the day, it takes a lot to completely ruin your child's life. There are billions of people all over the world being raised in different ways, and they're all doing more or less OK.

Kyle and I aren't stressing out too much about raising this boy. We're following my mom's advice of, "You'll know what to do when you have him." And she was right.